World · Europe · 1 hr ago
Swiss Helicopter accused of exceeding flight limits in Bernese Oberland
Swiss Helicopter is accused of carrying out more flights than allowed at an airfield in the Bernese Oberland, Switzerland, over several years.
Residents who noticed irregularities counted about 5,000 extra flight movements in 2025, counting each takeoff and landing separately.
The company’s chief, Christoph Schmid, estimated the excess at about 3,000 movements.
Switzerland’s Federal Office of Civil Aviation has opened administrative criminal proceedings against the airfield manager, who is presumed innocent.
Schmid said the company’s operational management and board had not known about the excesses, and he apologised.
He has also asked for the permitted flight limit to be raised.
Meanwhile, some helicopters use nearby meadows for takeoffs and landings, which the company says are legal and do not count toward the airfield’s limit.
Swiss Helicopter is suspected of exceeding the flight limit at an airfield in the Bernese Oberland over several years.
Residents counted about 5,000 more flight movements than permitted in 2025, while the company’s chief estimated the excess at about 3,000.
Switzerland’s Federal Office of Civil Aviation has opened administrative penal proceedings against the airfield manager.
The company says its operational management and board did not know about the excess movements.
Swiss Helicopter has apologised and requested a higher flight quota.
- Who
- Swiss Helicopter and the responsible airfield manager are involved.
- What
- The company is suspected of exceeding the airfield’s permitted flight quota. The Federal Office of Civil Aviation has opened proceedings against the airfield manager.
- When
- The alleged excess occurred over several years; residents counted movements for 2025.
- Where
- An airfield in the Bernese Oberland, Switzerland.
- Why
- The proceedings followed suspected flight movements above the permitted quota.
Local residents
Swiss Helicopter chief Christoph Schmid
Estimated excess in 2025
Local residents
Residents counted about 5,000 more flight movements than permitted.
Swiss Helicopter chief Christoph Schmid
Schmid estimated about 3,000 additional flight movements.
No direct quotes in the coverage so far.
Swiss Helicopter allegedly carried out more flight movements than the airfield’s quota allowed.
Residents counted about 5,000 more flight movements than permitted.
The Federal Office of Civil Aviation had opened administrative penal proceedings against the responsible airfield manager.
- Company
- Swiss Helicopter
- Location
- Bernese Oberland
- Residents’ estimate for 2025
- About 5,000 excess flight movements
- Company chief’s estimate
- About 3,000 additional flight movements
- Proceedings
- Administrative penal proceedings against the responsible airfield manager
Sources
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